Insung Heroes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I advance into my very Senior years, i recall memories of my time spent in WW2. I still seek answers as to whether justice was served. I recall that back in 1946, A year after the WW2 ended, I laid in a bed at the Armies McGuire General hospital in Richmond Virginia right after another of many operations for my war wounds. Two Officers came to my bed and presented me a Bronze Star Medal. They said a few kind words, shook my hand and left. Other GI's along with a couple of Army nurses came over and asked me what it was all about? I was as bewildered as they were. I read an attached memo stating that it was for Meritorious action against the enemy on a date in late December 1944. ( Battle of the Bulge). I recalled that date as being at the Northern Shoulder at the Elsenborne Ridge, Belgium. Being one of many walking wounded. I was ordered back to the front lines with many other walking wounded. Every available man was ordered back on line.I was ordered to man a position on high ground along with troops that I did not know. An enemy attack was imminent. On my right there were two Polish Soldiers from the British army manning a machine gun. To my left there were other GI's like myself separated from their units. The Germans attacked twice being beaten back both times. They never returned. For this I was awarded the Bronze star.. I often wondered if the others who did that same as I did received one? Surely the Polish Machine gunners scored more kills than I did. Was there an injustice committed here? Strange things happen during wars
Hero's Another story that comes to mind. It too is sketchy. After 65 years I can only tell what I can recall. After the Battle of the Bulge, my outfit joined others in advance to the Rhine River And Cologne, in the Rhineland.. Unlike the Ardennes the Rhineland was open flat plains dotted with small villages. As we advanced we met very little resistance. In most villages white flags hung from windows, and most civilians fled before we arrived. On one occasion we entered a village in the afternoon. We were ordered to stop and rest for the night. A couple of us moved into a deserted house for the night. After a short while one GI called all of us to a cool dark cellar. It was a real treasure trove. Along the wall there was Bavarian Pumpernickel stacked like firewood against the wall. There were blocks of cheese, preserved fruit,Smoked Sausage and wine. The Rhineland was fertile farm country. Food was plentiful. As we gorged ourselves on our bounty, there was loud explosion. Fearing an attack we grabbed out weapons and took shelter. After awhile nothing happened and we relaxed. Some one went out of the house and called out to the rest of us. Up the street from where we were we saw smoke and a destroyed house with a hole in the ground. We learned that our battalion medics took the house over for the night. It was later learned that The Germans abandoned a casche of munitions against the house.. It was later assumed that they booby trapped the munitions killing our entire medical Corpsmen.. From that time on we learned our lesson.. We kept on the lookout from that time on.
Hello Sir and welcome to this fine place! Many thanks for your service to our country and for sharing your memories here! We appreciate it, truly!
Thank you for honoring us with your presence. Love the stories. Every person who was there has so much to tell us who were not.
Franek, Warmest regards, and thank you for joining this wonderful place. You are welcomed and appreciated! Mark
Franek, In answering your question, I can honestly say that I have no good answer. Think of men who's heroics are never known, as everyone was killed. This could have easily have befallen Lt Lyle Bouck's command in Lanzerath. Had everyone in that platoon been killed, we'd have never known what they did in slowing down the German Sixth Army in those early hours of Dec 16th. Why you and not the Poles to your right? I guess, like I tell my daughters sometimes, nothing is life is fair. You getting sent off to fight in your youth certainly wasn't fair, when I was allowed to stay home in my youth, safe from danger. I know from our phone conversation that you don't seem to dwell on your injuries, telling me that you have had a good life. I guess, like you said, that is best attitude to have, accept what is dealt your life and make the best of it. For that, I salute you.
